U.A.S. Gain£362,000 Fares Grant: N.G.T. Staff Cost Extra £245,000
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A FARES grant, calculated to be worth £362,000 in a full year, was 1-1 awarded to United Automobile Services, Ltd. by the Northern Traffic Commissioners, at Newcastle upon Tyne, last week. Objections had been lodged by more than 30 local authorities, whose representatives attended the hearing in force.
The application sought to withdraw return fares, and to increase single fares up to 4id. by i-d., and others by Id. There was also a proposal to iron out sub-standard fares in maximum steps of Id. on those up to 4id.; 2d_ on those up to Is.; 3d. on fares of more than Is., and, in the case of returns, 4d. on fares above 2s. Fares still below the new scale would be increased by these maximum amounts on October 1, and final anomalies removed on January 1, 1961. In their grant, the Commissioners varied these dates to November 1 and April 1, 1961.
For the company, Mr. F. A. Stockdale said that the recent wage award would cost them £172,000 in 1960 and £331,000 in a full year. A previous application, in December, 1958, which sought to raise part of the cost of a wage award made in October, 1958, had been refused on the ground that it was premature. United had not availed themselves of the Commissioners' suggestion that a further application be made after six months because a reduction in licence charges had saved them £34,000 in 1959 and £44,000-£45,000 in a full year.
The present application was designed to meet the £331,000 and also go some way towards meeting the previous award. If granted, it would produce £170,000 in 1960, and £362,000 in a full year.
• If the application were refused, the estimated net income for 1960 would be £277,500, which would yield 4.4 per cent. on capital. For 1961, an estimated £118,500 would produce only 1.9 per cent. On this hypothesis the company's trading in bus services in 1961 would just balance. The £118,000 profit would be derived from ancillary services and interest on money deposited on shortcall, claimed Mr. Stockdale.
Replacement Basis Present fleet strength was 1,060 and an average of 85 new vehicles acquired each year, on a 12-year replacement basis, demonstrated that the company had faithfully fulfilled their task of complete fleet replacement once every 12 years.
For the objectors, Mr. Steer submitted that the company, who were in a sound financial position and already making good profits, were not offering to bear any part of the increased cost. He conceded that some increase was necessary, but the company were asking for too much, he claimed.
The continued decline in the number . of passengers was referred to. at Bristol last week, when Plymouth Corporation were granted increases on certain bus fares within the city boundaries by the Western Traffic Commissioners c18 Submitting a case to raise fares above 5d. by id. and to reduce the distance covered by the present 4d. fare, Mr. H. R. Haydon, deputy town clerk, said that anticipated revenue this year was £10,000 less than for the previous twelve months. This would have produced a surplus of £5,000 but for the wage award announced in March.
The higher wages bill would cost over £60,000 in a full year and the increases, if granted, would produce £41,000. Only 44 per cent, of the total passengers carried would be affected by the proposed increases. They would be the who were getting the most for their money now.
At the same sitting, Exeter Corporation were granted permission to withdraw workmen's return tickets for journeys within the city boundaries, from Monday. Abolition of the concession, it was estimated, would bring in 15,000 this year.
Unnecessary Anomaly Workmen's fares had been in operation since the undertaking was founded in 1905, it was stated. They were an anomaly and unnecessary today in view of the general scale of wages obtaining, said Mr. L. J. Woodland, assistant solicitor of the Corporation. It was significant that no protest against the proposal had been received.
The Northern General Transport Co., Ltd., and their .subsidiaries were granted fares increases by the Northern Traffic Commissioners, at Newcastle upon Tyne, on Mondv. It is expected that fares will go up in the next few weeks by amounts varying from id.-3d.
All but two of 24 local authorities, who originally opposed the application, had withdrawn, said Mr. J. L. R. Croft, for the company. The remaining objectors were Jarrow Town Council and Hepburn Urban Council. Better conditions for the staff would cost the company an extra 1245,000 annually, said Mr. Croft. Stability in fares had not yet been reached, he added.
An' " any-distance " fare of Id. for • old-age pensioners during off-peak periods was proposed at Nottingham City • Council on Monday, when the council agreed to apply for increased fares. • Cllr-. Winston Churchill, who made the suggestion, said: "This increase would mean that we are starting to imprison
• old-age pensioners in their homes." He urged the corporation to remove any obstacle to his suggestion and said: "let Nottingham take the lead for the whole country." Aid. Sidney Hill, chairman of the transport committee, promised to put the suggestion before his committee.
Sl!m. Bus Orders By Scots Group
THE Scottish Bus Group has placed I orders for 266 new vehicles to cost nearly £14m. for 1961. Supporting the normal policy of fleet replacement, the new vehicles vary from 67-seat doubledeckers to 34-seat luxury coaches. The latest contracts bring the total number of new vehicles ordered by the Groua during the past three years to 830. Total cost will be £4m.
All will incorporate the latest features in design and particular regard will be paid to heating and ventilation. Many of the double-deckers will be fitted with doors, and other features include rear air suspension and air brakes.
Scottish concerns will share in the order, for more than half the total number of vehicle bodies will be built in Scotland.
Details of the individual orders of the companies are as follow:— Scottish Omnibuses, Ltd.: 25 Bristol Lodekka 60seaters. with doors; 25 A.E.C. Reliance 41-seat coaches; 10 A.E.C. Reliance 34-seat coaches.
W. Alexander and Sons, Ltd.: 25 Bristol Lodekka 60-seat double-deckers; 25 Leyland 67-seat doubledeckers; 20 Leyland Tiger Cub 32-seat coaches; 10 Leyland Tiger Cub 41-seat coaches; 20 A.E.C.
Reliance 4I-seat coaches.
Western S.M.T. Co., Ltd.: five Bristol 4I-seat coaches; 50 Leyland 67-seat double-deckers; 20 Bristol Lodekka 60-seat double-deckers; three Bristol 60-seaters; two Bristol 70-seat double-deckers.
Central S.M.T. Co., Ltd.: 14 Bristol Lodekka 60-seaters; six Leyland Leopard 41-seaters.
Highland Omnibuses, Ltd.: six vehicles—type and make not decided.
TROLLEYBUSES TO GO
A RECOMMENDATION that the ti plan to replace trolleybuses by oilengirted buses in Hull be implemented was made to the city council by the transport committee last week.
A replacement policy had been agreed, but last December Hull Ratepayers' League opposed the plan. They considered that trolleybuses should continue because they did not rely on imported fuel, were cleaner, quieter and more reliable and did not emit noxious fumes.
The committee want to discontinue one service and cut another after 7.30 p.m. on weekdays.